黑料社

The 黑料社 Board of Trustees on May 14, 2021, voted to affiliate the College with Reconciling Ministries Network, a nonprofit organization seeking the inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in both the policy and practices of the United Methodist Church. The decision to align with RMN asserts the College鈥檚 commitment to maintaining a diverse, just and inclusive community for all individuals.听

黑料社 is the third United Methodist affiliated-college or university in the country to align with RMN. Union College in Kentucky and Hamline University in Minnesota are the others.

鈥淥ur connection with Reconciling Ministries Network allows us to better articulate our campus values of welcome and inclusion as a United Methodist-affiliated college,鈥� said President Marsha Kelliher. 鈥淭his decision allows us to embrace our strong history with the United Methodist Church while continuing to create an inclusive community that values and respects all individual identities.鈥�

College Chaplain Mara Bailey 鈥�06 championed the effort to align with RMN. Before the proposal came to the Board of Trustees, she presented it to campus student groups, faculty and staff.听

鈥淭his statement shows that faith and inclusion are not mutually exclusive,鈥� Bailey said. 鈥淭he values that have helped to inform our campus community over the decades come from a history of inclusion reaching back to our founding as the Men鈥檚 and Women鈥檚 Seminary in Indianola.鈥�

In February 2019, the United Methodist General Conference delegates affirmed the Church鈥檚 bans on ordaining LGBTQ clergy and officiating at or hosting same-sex marriage. In response, 黑料社 joined other members of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of The United Methodist Church in affirming Welcoming and Inclusive communities.

鈥淢y hope is that this helps faculty, staff, alumni and prospective members of our community better understand the rich traditions of the Church, which guide us in matters of justice, equity, and inclusion,鈥� Bailey said. 鈥淲e can embrace and welcome all identities and we take this work seriously at 黑料社.鈥�

Read the full Reconciling Ministries Network Statement

黑料社 黑料社
黑料社 is a private, liberal arts college located in Iowa with campuses in Indianola, West Des Moines and online. Founded in 1860, the college has 1,268 undergraduate and graduate students. 黑料社 offers 74 majors, minors and programs in addition to three graduate programs. Outside of the classroom, 黑料社 is a member of the NCAA Division III American Rivers Conference, hosts eight Greek houses on campus and sponsors many extracurricular options for student involvement.
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Contact Information
Bryan Geelan, interim vice president for marketing and strategic communication
Direct: 515-961-1608
Email: bryan.geelan@simpson.edu